Regional Briefs: Aug 28

Los Angeles County Fire Hazmat workers were cleaning up chlorine that had spilled out into the intersection of Lambert Road and Walnut Street on Monday morning, police said.

"It's minor, there's no threat to the public," said La Habra police Sgt. Brian Miller. "It's the droplets that you put in the pools" that spilled out into the intersection around

8:31 a.m.

MONROVIA

Bear burglar raids ex-mayor's fridge

A bear got inside former Monrovia Mayor Lara Blakely's home over the weekend and helped himself to a pork loin.

Blakely witnessed the aftermath of the Sunday raid after the bear had walked out of her Hidden Valley Road home and was on her deck. She described the bear as about two years old and weighing 200 to 250 pounds.

"I've lived here 16 years. Never had this happen," Blakely said.

The Sunday incident began about 11 a.m. Blakely was with her daughter in a room folding laundry when she heard the neighbor's dog.

"I had my back deck open. It was Sunday morning and the dog next door was barking and barking," she said.

Blakely didn't see anything. She walked out with the folded laundry then spotted a wet bear on the deck.

She also noticed wet paw marks on the floor and realized the animal had already been inside the house. Based on the marks, she said the bear walked in through the double French doors, wandered in the living room, the dining room and the kitchen.

"He's been in the kitchen and dumped a trash can. The refrigerator door was open," Blakely said.

"You think his huge claws would have damaged the refrigerator. There's not a claw mark. He ate my boneless pork loin I was going to have for dinner."

The furry burglar also tried to swipe a bottle of barbecue sauce. Blakely found the unopened bottle next to the container that once held the meat.

She shooed the bear which went up the hillside and called Animal Control.

The animal control officer was familiar with the bear, told her it was a repeat offender and that Fish and Game would be notified.